Alessandro Latini spent more than a decade designing furniture that wound up at places like Crate & Barrel, Macy’s, Pottery Barn, and other mass-market stores. Now, the designs he creates for SOBU, a company he owns and runs with his wife, Laleh, veer far away from those mall favorites.

Built by an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1960s, this Piedmont home was made for parties. In fact, the living room’s barreled ceilings were specifically designed to enhance the acoustics of the first owners’ grand organ concerts.

Built by an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1960s, this Piedmont home was made for parties. In fact, the living room’s barreled ceilings were specifically designed to enhance the acoustics of the first owners’ grand organ concerts.

In 1895, a family purchased a brand- new Queen Anne Victorian at 2029 Central Ave. in Alameda for the royal sum of $4,380, a majestic multistoried house outfitted with a turret, archway and bay windows.